Welfare |
When you become a student, no matter how carefully you’ve picked your university, not everything is always going to go as planned. And, frankly, how dull would it be if it did? Chances are, you’ll need help just to avoid a few problems in the first place, let alone to deal with them if they arise. At this point, it becomes vitally important that the place you chose has the right kind of welfare provisions.
There are all kinds of students. Mature students, BAME students, international students, postgrad students, students with disabilities, students with families or students who are just flat broke, and your university should be there to help you no matter what. Just being yourself makes you a minority of one and brings with it all the special interests you might have. Let’s break down what you might be wanting to look out for.
There are all kinds of students. Mature students, BAME students, international students, postgrad students, students with disabilities, students with families or students who are just flat broke, and your university should be there to help you no matter what. Just being yourself makes you a minority of one and brings with it all the special interests you might have. Let’s break down what you might be wanting to look out for.
getting help
Where do you go with problems?
The level of advice, support and help available varies enormously from university to university.
Some have huge welfare centres, employing teams of counsellors each with different areas of expertise, from legal problems to grief counselling, from debt management to academic appeals, from finding suitable accommodation to relationship difficulties, from… you get the idea.
Other universities and colleges have a few tutors whose advice is only slightly more sympathetic than telling you to keep a stiff upper lip and that it’ll all be alright in the end, so this is an area you should really read up on when choosing a uni.
The level of advice, support and help available varies enormously from university to university.
Some have huge welfare centres, employing teams of counsellors each with different areas of expertise, from legal problems to grief counselling, from debt management to academic appeals, from finding suitable accommodation to relationship difficulties, from… you get the idea.
Other universities and colleges have a few tutors whose advice is only slightly more sympathetic than telling you to keep a stiff upper lip and that it’ll all be alright in the end, so this is an area you should really read up on when choosing a uni.
main support
The main responsibility for dealing with welfare issues is sometimes the university’s, sometimes the students’ union’s and sometimes, in a rare outbreak of collaboration, both.
As a far too general rule, however, universities tend to look after the sticky situations that require fully professional help — counsellors with major-league qualifications, even therapists and psychiatrists. The exception is legal problems, which are usually more the domain of the SUs (or, more accurately, of a solicitor occasionally paid by the SU to conduct free surgeries for students).
Meanwhile, the SUs look after the problems that require straightforward information, someone to represent students’ personal interests (to, say, an LEA that’s late in coughing up a cheque) or just someone sensitive and helpful who can listen. SUs also handle anything that involves complaints against the university (such as sexual harassment, disputes over grades, supposed prejudice by tutors or authorities etc.).
SUs are also often responsible for trying to help avoid problems in the first place. They run welfare campaigns and often run the accommodation service for students wanting to live out.
As I said, these generalisations are outrageous and the standards vary more wildly than Cara Delevingne's fashion taste.
While the national average is one counsellor for every 3,753 students, at Queen’s University Belfast, Sussex and Wolverhampton, the level of counsellor provision is more than three times as high. Meanwhile, at Huddersfield, Northumbria and Glasgow Caledonian, there are more than 5,000 students to every counsellor.
No two universities divide the responsibilities in the same way. Many also have other support mechanisms in place, either as well or instead of those outlined above. Some are listed below, although no university has them all.
As a far too general rule, however, universities tend to look after the sticky situations that require fully professional help — counsellors with major-league qualifications, even therapists and psychiatrists. The exception is legal problems, which are usually more the domain of the SUs (or, more accurately, of a solicitor occasionally paid by the SU to conduct free surgeries for students).
Meanwhile, the SUs look after the problems that require straightforward information, someone to represent students’ personal interests (to, say, an LEA that’s late in coughing up a cheque) or just someone sensitive and helpful who can listen. SUs also handle anything that involves complaints against the university (such as sexual harassment, disputes over grades, supposed prejudice by tutors or authorities etc.).
SUs are also often responsible for trying to help avoid problems in the first place. They run welfare campaigns and often run the accommodation service for students wanting to live out.
As I said, these generalisations are outrageous and the standards vary more wildly than Cara Delevingne's fashion taste.
While the national average is one counsellor for every 3,753 students, at Queen’s University Belfast, Sussex and Wolverhampton, the level of counsellor provision is more than three times as high. Meanwhile, at Huddersfield, Northumbria and Glasgow Caledonian, there are more than 5,000 students to every counsellor.
No two universities divide the responsibilities in the same way. Many also have other support mechanisms in place, either as well or instead of those outlined above. Some are listed below, although no university has them all.
OTHER support
PERSONAL, MORAL OR COLLEGE TUTORS
Most students will be have a department tutor who is responsible for their course progress. However, many will also be assigned a Personal Tutor who can be visited at any point during an academic career. The usefulness of this tutor depends on who you get. Some have no training and even less interest. The system tends to work better in collegiate universities, which are more of a close-knit community in the first place.
MENTORS, A.K.A "BIG BROTHERS/SISTERS"
Many universities try to pair up second and third years with freshers, like an older brother or sister to show them the ropes. Most of these schemes are voluntary on the part of the ‘older’ students and, if they’re not, they’re virtually useless. Even the non-voluntary systems rely heavily on untrained students who may have a whole family of younger siblings to look after. It’s a nice idea and occasionally it works brilliantly, especially in the first few weeks.
Most students will be have a department tutor who is responsible for their course progress. However, many will also be assigned a Personal Tutor who can be visited at any point during an academic career. The usefulness of this tutor depends on who you get. Some have no training and even less interest. The system tends to work better in collegiate universities, which are more of a close-knit community in the first place.
MENTORS, A.K.A "BIG BROTHERS/SISTERS"
Many universities try to pair up second and third years with freshers, like an older brother or sister to show them the ropes. Most of these schemes are voluntary on the part of the ‘older’ students and, if they’re not, they’re virtually useless. Even the non-voluntary systems rely heavily on untrained students who may have a whole family of younger siblings to look after. It’s a nice idea and occasionally it works brilliantly, especially in the first few weeks.
SENIOR STUDENTS OR RAS
Sometimes students are allowed to live in for longer than they would otherwise be able, or on better terms and conditions if they take certain responsibilities. It’s not dissimilar to the mentoring system, except that senior students tend to live in student halls, flats or houses among first years and are responsible partly for making sure they don’t go feral and trash the place, and partly for the first years’ well-being.
Most senior students do it for one or more of the following reasons: (a) they want to live in for another year; (b) they want the cheaper or better room that comes with the job; (c) they think they ought to do something to get CV points while they’re at university; (d) having failed to score with anyone in their own year, they think this is a good way to get first pick of the freshers.
CHAPLAINS
For those who like their welfare support to come with a religious tinge, most universities have a number of chaplains of different denominations.
To be fair though, most chaplains are just good listeners who keep their religious agenda for those who want to listen. Still, spiritual guidance isn’t the answer to every student’s prayers and is more suited to long dark nights of the soul than handling black hole bank balances and exorcising evil landlords.
NIGHTLINE SERVICES
Most universities have a nightline service — and thank God they do.
They work on the principle of The Samaritans — a free, anonymous, confidential phone line staffed by trained volunteers (usually students) who can provide a friendly non-judgemental ear, basic medical advice or even just the phone number of a reliable late night cab company. Some of them even have drop-in centres.
Most of them are highly effective and valuable contributions to the mental health of their universities, although, as always, some are better than others and not every university has one.
Sometimes students are allowed to live in for longer than they would otherwise be able, or on better terms and conditions if they take certain responsibilities. It’s not dissimilar to the mentoring system, except that senior students tend to live in student halls, flats or houses among first years and are responsible partly for making sure they don’t go feral and trash the place, and partly for the first years’ well-being.
Most senior students do it for one or more of the following reasons: (a) they want to live in for another year; (b) they want the cheaper or better room that comes with the job; (c) they think they ought to do something to get CV points while they’re at university; (d) having failed to score with anyone in their own year, they think this is a good way to get first pick of the freshers.
CHAPLAINS
For those who like their welfare support to come with a religious tinge, most universities have a number of chaplains of different denominations.
To be fair though, most chaplains are just good listeners who keep their religious agenda for those who want to listen. Still, spiritual guidance isn’t the answer to every student’s prayers and is more suited to long dark nights of the soul than handling black hole bank balances and exorcising evil landlords.
NIGHTLINE SERVICES
Most universities have a nightline service — and thank God they do.
They work on the principle of The Samaritans — a free, anonymous, confidential phone line staffed by trained volunteers (usually students) who can provide a friendly non-judgemental ear, basic medical advice or even just the phone number of a reliable late night cab company. Some of them even have drop-in centres.
Most of them are highly effective and valuable contributions to the mental health of their universities, although, as always, some are better than others and not every university has one.
health
The NUS have recently conducted a huge national survey about the health care habits of students. They have found that one in ten students doesn’t go to see their doctor because they’re afraid it’ll cost them. Also one in ten students isn’t registered with a doctor at all. And one in ten doesn’t even know how to find a local doctor. (Makes you wonder who that one student in ten is.)
All the while, four fifths of all students expect to need a doctor at some point during their studies. A similar trend is seen among dentists and opticians. Half of all students spend between one and thirty quid on healthcare every month, though a lot of that might be hangover cures. 15% of students don’t visit a doctor when they need to and one in twenty won’t go if they’re suffering from mental health problems. A big reason for this failure to go is a worry about costs.
PSA: Most students qualify for free prescriptions, eye tests or dental checks.
The scheme is called the NHS Low Income Scheme and only really involves filling out a few forms. See nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Some universities rely on students registering with a local NHS practice, which may be okay, but is a bit of a risk for those who don’t bother, or who keep meaning to but don’t get round to it. Others have their own dedicated practices on campus or near one of their sites. Apart from a full complement of doctors, nurses and occasionally (but rarely) dentists, many have specialists including psychiatrists, family planning/sexual health advisers, and even sports physiotherapists.
If you have an existing medical condition, you’ll want to be sure that arrangements are satisfactory – but with outbreaks of meningitis almost every year at universities, it’s wise to be prepared even if you’re as fit as Cinderella’s slipper
All the while, four fifths of all students expect to need a doctor at some point during their studies. A similar trend is seen among dentists and opticians. Half of all students spend between one and thirty quid on healthcare every month, though a lot of that might be hangover cures. 15% of students don’t visit a doctor when they need to and one in twenty won’t go if they’re suffering from mental health problems. A big reason for this failure to go is a worry about costs.
PSA: Most students qualify for free prescriptions, eye tests or dental checks.
The scheme is called the NHS Low Income Scheme and only really involves filling out a few forms. See nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Some universities rely on students registering with a local NHS practice, which may be okay, but is a bit of a risk for those who don’t bother, or who keep meaning to but don’t get round to it. Others have their own dedicated practices on campus or near one of their sites. Apart from a full complement of doctors, nurses and occasionally (but rarely) dentists, many have specialists including psychiatrists, family planning/sexual health advisers, and even sports physiotherapists.
If you have an existing medical condition, you’ll want to be sure that arrangements are satisfactory – but with outbreaks of meningitis almost every year at universities, it’s wise to be prepared even if you’re as fit as Cinderella’s slipper
well being
4 out of 5 people between the ages of 18 and 21 know someone who has experienced a mental health problem, while nearly 2 in 5 know someone who has attempted suicide. A quarter of all people in the same age group are worried about the mental health of someone their age.
And, according to the NUS, among students, it’s an even more critical issue. 63% of university counselling services have reported an increase in psychological distress among students.
Which is why, even if you can’t imagine it ever being you, it’s good to find a university with solid support structures. These can often include any or all of the following:
More about some of these below. However, the range of difference in the amount and standard of these services is vast. Some universities have all of the above and they’re run with an efficiency that would have put certain fascist states to shame. Others have some lecturer whose been told they’re in charge of welfare and whose attitude is, well, lacking.
There’s lots of information about mental and emotional health issues on the Royal College of Psychiatrists' website.
Check out our mental health blogs and the Independent's article on 'what students need to know about university and mental health'
And, according to the NUS, among students, it’s an even more critical issue. 63% of university counselling services have reported an increase in psychological distress among students.
Which is why, even if you can’t imagine it ever being you, it’s good to find a university with solid support structures. These can often include any or all of the following:
- a university-run counselling service, often with specialist advisers on debt, mental health, legal issues, housing, relationship and personal problems and so on
- a students’ union-run counselling service (as well as or instead of one run by the university), often staffed by sabbaticals or permanent staff or both. Usually has the ability to help in similar situations as above, as well as academic or other disputes with the university itself
- ‘moral’ or personal tutors: academics, sometimes with special training, sometimes without, who’re supposed to take a special interest in their students’ state of mind
- chaplains: obviously for those seeking support with a more religious flavour
- mentors: students in their second or final years, assigned pastoral duties of a sort of older brother/sister kind
- psychiatric services: rarely available full-time or with being referred
- regular health services, including GPs, nurses, psychotherapists, etc.
More about some of these below. However, the range of difference in the amount and standard of these services is vast. Some universities have all of the above and they’re run with an efficiency that would have put certain fascist states to shame. Others have some lecturer whose been told they’re in charge of welfare and whose attitude is, well, lacking.
There’s lots of information about mental and emotional health issues on the Royal College of Psychiatrists' website.
Check out our mental health blogs and the Independent's article on 'what students need to know about university and mental health'
Putting pressure on yourself
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Push guest speaker Ben - who took a different route to getting a degree (via his job) gives his tips on how to take the pressure off yourself.
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money worries
It’s safe to say that every student has money worries. There are certainly few enough that don’t, to make them the exceptions that prove the rule. There’s even a certain bravado among some students in boasting about how utterly broke they are. This means that it’s often difficult to judge when your worries have become a serious problem that threatens your health, your welfare, or your ability to continue your course.
This is one of the reasons your bank should become your friend. You can bet they’ll let you know if your financial situation is becoming a crisis, and you should listen to what they’re saying. However, the bank won’t always know the full picture.
Naturally enough, the Student Loans Company is keen to get its money back sometime and is therefore also willing to tell you the score.
Usually the university or SU welfare service will have debt counsellors who can tell you what to do, who you can ask for more money and how to make ends meet on whatever you’ve got.
They may even be able to offer emergency loans or, if you’re really stuck, wads of money may be available from the access or hardship funds. Bear in mind, however, that everyone would like a slice of that cake and therefore few students get very much. The hand-out policies vary and you can get a vague idea of their approach by knowing the number of successful applications in any given year and the total sum they’ve got to give away.
This is one of the reasons your bank should become your friend. You can bet they’ll let you know if your financial situation is becoming a crisis, and you should listen to what they’re saying. However, the bank won’t always know the full picture.
Naturally enough, the Student Loans Company is keen to get its money back sometime and is therefore also willing to tell you the score.
Usually the university or SU welfare service will have debt counsellors who can tell you what to do, who you can ask for more money and how to make ends meet on whatever you’ve got.
They may even be able to offer emergency loans or, if you’re really stuck, wads of money may be available from the access or hardship funds. Bear in mind, however, that everyone would like a slice of that cake and therefore few students get very much. The hand-out policies vary and you can get a vague idea of their approach by knowing the number of successful applications in any given year and the total sum they’ve got to give away.
homesickness
For some, the prospect of going to university (and getting away from home) is heaven on a stick. For others, the idea’s about as comforting as a fanged carebear.
Homesickness affects everyone differently, and no two people’s experiences are the same. Any change can trigger stress – and changes don't get much bigger than uprooting to a whole new stomping ground. Usually it's no more than a relatively minor feeling of loneliness or not belonging and it passes after a while. But sometimes, it’s a far more serious deal that can turn into depression, anxiety and physical illness.
No one knows how hard it may hit them and it's not something to be ashamed of. And, while feeling homesick in your first week won’t necessarily ruin the rest of your time at university, there are steps you can take to stop it spiraling out of control. So, here’s Push’s guide to keeping your perks perky:
Simply put, homesickness is a response to being separated from people, places or routines that you’re used to and know well. And although it can appear for a number of reasons, packing your parcels for uni life is almost a sure-fire trigger. Most students suffer the odd twinge of homesickness, although few admit it.
How people experience homesickness, and to what extent, varies from person to person, but it can range from a faint nostalgia for family or friends at home, right through to a chronic illness involving depression, anxiety and physical symptoms.
You may feel you want to be left alone – or even that you don't, but that no one seems to understand, to 'get' you. You may feel you just don't 'belong' here or as if you're being left out (or want to be). You might feel a little paranoid – as if people might be talking about you behind your back. Or you may feel just exhausted by the effort of trying to fit in, to be someone you're not. All these might be clues: often people don't even recognise that homesickness is the name for how they're feeling.
When it’s the mild end of the scale, homesickness is a pretty healthy response to finding yourself in a new place. It could even make you all teary eyed and rosy-hued about parental nagging.
The other end of the scale is rare, but not unheard of, and it’s a serious deal. What starts off as a vague feeling of loneliness can develop into a serious mental illness, like depression or anxiety, feeling helpless or even suicidal. There can be physical symptoms too – anything from withdrawal and sleeplessness to cramps, nausea and headaches (although it's worth ruling out whether you might not just have a hangover).
Feelings like this should never be taken for granted. A little hankering for friends and family is no bad thing, but you need to face it early on and keep it in check so that it doesn’t take over. Ever eager to help, Push has provided a quick-fix guide to help ward off the woes. That said, homesickness will be different for everyone who experiences it, and what works for you might not for someone else. Mix our ideas with your own ways to battle the home blues, whether that’s recording your parents arguing or remembering the time the dog confused your shiny new laptop with a tree. For most people, that’ll be more than enough.
But if you find the tears welling a tad too easily or that your sole excursion from your room is for bowel movements, it’s time to break what can become a downward spiral.
That involves getting help. Personal Tutors, parents and friends are often the best first place to turn. Just talking it through can mean the demons get exorcised. Failing that, this is not something too trivial to bother your GP about, especially if you’re feeling depressed or unable to cope. Click here for the Samaritans and other welfare links, or read on for where else to get help.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
Everyone tackles homesickness differently. While many would have you believe they’re pants-droppingly confident, most people find themselves feeling adrift during the first few days at a new place.
Give yourself the best chance of settling in quickly, so here’s a quick action pack for facing the first days:
PIMP YOUR PAD
Whether or not you intend to spend any time in it, your room is one place you can take a little slice of the home pie. No two universities are the same and, while some places might provide you with a palatial suite and a bathroom big enough to play baseball in, others make cupboards look like castles. Still, it’s your place (within reason) to do what you like with. So here are Push’s nest-feathering suggestions:
GET OUT MORE
You can pretty much take any group of 8,000 people of above average intelligence, mostly between 18 and 25, and leave them to it to have fun. That said, sometimes we need a little help to thaw the frost.
It may sound harsh, but hiding in your room is as effective for warding off homesickness as taking a jelly for a walk. Tempting as it might be to adopt the hermit’s approach to freshers’ week, get out and introduce yourself as early as possible. Everyone else will be feeling nervous to some extent and the longer you leave it, the harder it gets.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Flying the nest needn’t mean breaking contact completely. So before you change your name and destroy the paper-trail, get on the phone to the folks to let them know how you’re doing. They’ll want to know. Short of phoning home to tell them about your every bathroom break, it’s a good idea to let your friends or family how things are going. Especially if you need help.
WHERE TO GET HELP
The single biggest cure for homesickness is talking about it. But, strangely some people seem to prefer to suffer than grab the easy solution.
There are two reason why people don't talk about homesickness. Firstly, they seem to believe there's a reason to be ashamed. Homesickness is a form of stress and stress is a normal reaction to challenging events. Stress is what helps you react to danger, but it can also have side effects. There's nothing childish about homesickness – it happens at any time of life and affects the butchest blokes and the most intrepid travellers.
Secondly, people just don't realise. Of course, they know all is not right with the universe, but homesickness? Surely not me. I mean, it's not like it's my first time away from home. It's not like I'm six. It's not like I'm not coping.
Understanding that a touch of the moody blues may be part of something bigger or may have a specific cause can be half the battle. It means you can take evasive action – whether it's getting out more or getting help.
Whatever you do – don’t feel you have to struggle on without asking for help. Even if it's nothing more than a phone call to a friend. Often just talking through something can help put things in perspective. Beyond this, universities offer advice and support, although the amount and type vary enormously from university to university.
These are some of the avenues you might try:
Homesickness affects everyone differently, and no two people’s experiences are the same. Any change can trigger stress – and changes don't get much bigger than uprooting to a whole new stomping ground. Usually it's no more than a relatively minor feeling of loneliness or not belonging and it passes after a while. But sometimes, it’s a far more serious deal that can turn into depression, anxiety and physical illness.
No one knows how hard it may hit them and it's not something to be ashamed of. And, while feeling homesick in your first week won’t necessarily ruin the rest of your time at university, there are steps you can take to stop it spiraling out of control. So, here’s Push’s guide to keeping your perks perky:
Simply put, homesickness is a response to being separated from people, places or routines that you’re used to and know well. And although it can appear for a number of reasons, packing your parcels for uni life is almost a sure-fire trigger. Most students suffer the odd twinge of homesickness, although few admit it.
How people experience homesickness, and to what extent, varies from person to person, but it can range from a faint nostalgia for family or friends at home, right through to a chronic illness involving depression, anxiety and physical symptoms.
You may feel you want to be left alone – or even that you don't, but that no one seems to understand, to 'get' you. You may feel you just don't 'belong' here or as if you're being left out (or want to be). You might feel a little paranoid – as if people might be talking about you behind your back. Or you may feel just exhausted by the effort of trying to fit in, to be someone you're not. All these might be clues: often people don't even recognise that homesickness is the name for how they're feeling.
When it’s the mild end of the scale, homesickness is a pretty healthy response to finding yourself in a new place. It could even make you all teary eyed and rosy-hued about parental nagging.
The other end of the scale is rare, but not unheard of, and it’s a serious deal. What starts off as a vague feeling of loneliness can develop into a serious mental illness, like depression or anxiety, feeling helpless or even suicidal. There can be physical symptoms too – anything from withdrawal and sleeplessness to cramps, nausea and headaches (although it's worth ruling out whether you might not just have a hangover).
Feelings like this should never be taken for granted. A little hankering for friends and family is no bad thing, but you need to face it early on and keep it in check so that it doesn’t take over. Ever eager to help, Push has provided a quick-fix guide to help ward off the woes. That said, homesickness will be different for everyone who experiences it, and what works for you might not for someone else. Mix our ideas with your own ways to battle the home blues, whether that’s recording your parents arguing or remembering the time the dog confused your shiny new laptop with a tree. For most people, that’ll be more than enough.
But if you find the tears welling a tad too easily or that your sole excursion from your room is for bowel movements, it’s time to break what can become a downward spiral.
That involves getting help. Personal Tutors, parents and friends are often the best first place to turn. Just talking it through can mean the demons get exorcised. Failing that, this is not something too trivial to bother your GP about, especially if you’re feeling depressed or unable to cope. Click here for the Samaritans and other welfare links, or read on for where else to get help.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
Everyone tackles homesickness differently. While many would have you believe they’re pants-droppingly confident, most people find themselves feeling adrift during the first few days at a new place.
Give yourself the best chance of settling in quickly, so here’s a quick action pack for facing the first days:
PIMP YOUR PAD
Whether or not you intend to spend any time in it, your room is one place you can take a little slice of the home pie. No two universities are the same and, while some places might provide you with a palatial suite and a bathroom big enough to play baseball in, others make cupboards look like castles. Still, it’s your place (within reason) to do what you like with. So here are Push’s nest-feathering suggestions:
- Personalise your pad with a few choice items from home. This doesn’t mean stuffing the place to the rafters with pencil shavings from your first day at school – there just won’t be room, and once you get settled in, your stuff will breed by itself.
- Bring your own duvet, bed sheet, pillow and so forth. Some universities provide bed linen, but more often than not you’ll want your own anyway.
- While you might not be able to paint the walls, most places will have somewhere you can pin up pictures, posters and the like. Invest in some white-tak (works like blue-tak, minus the tell-tale marks).
- Choose a few favourite photos of friends, family, next door neighbour’s cat, or whatever reminds you of life back at the ranch. If you can’t stick them up on the walls (or don’t want to), beg borrow or steal some photo frames. Discount stores sell clip-frames (a big sheet of glass clipped to cardboard or wood) for about a fiver, which are great for displaying a collage of favourite photos, memorabilia and the like.
- Bring Teddy. Go on, admit it, you do have one. And you can always pass off Mr Grizzlepaws as an ironic statement.
- Stock up on snacks - tea, coffee, biscuits – these all help to make your place feel ‘lived in’. They’re also useful bribes for potential new mates.
GET OUT MORE
You can pretty much take any group of 8,000 people of above average intelligence, mostly between 18 and 25, and leave them to it to have fun. That said, sometimes we need a little help to thaw the frost.
It may sound harsh, but hiding in your room is as effective for warding off homesickness as taking a jelly for a walk. Tempting as it might be to adopt the hermit’s approach to freshers’ week, get out and introduce yourself as early as possible. Everyone else will be feeling nervous to some extent and the longer you leave it, the harder it gets.
- If you’re ‘living in’, scope out the communal spaces in your accommodation. If there’s a common room, find out where it is (ditto the bar), so you can be the one leading the way there later on.
- Prop open the door to your room. People are more likely to come in and say hi if your room’s not bolted and barricaded.
- Come equipped with tea, coffee, biscuits and booze. They break the ice quicker than a pick-axe and making a brew gives you something to do besides make small talk.
- Ents, bops, pub crawls – whatever your university or students' union has lined up, hop on the party bus.
- Take care of your tipple – a gentle tipsiness can be pleasantly distracting, but there’s a fine line between bobbing on the waves and disappearing beneath them. Avoid getting so sloshed that you can’t remember the names of your new-found friends, let alone your own. Oh, and in case it needs saying, no one will thank you for a 4am trip to A&E.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Flying the nest needn’t mean breaking contact completely. So before you change your name and destroy the paper-trail, get on the phone to the folks to let them know how you’re doing. They’ll want to know. Short of phoning home to tell them about your every bathroom break, it’s a good idea to let your friends or family how things are going. Especially if you need help.
WHERE TO GET HELP
The single biggest cure for homesickness is talking about it. But, strangely some people seem to prefer to suffer than grab the easy solution.
There are two reason why people don't talk about homesickness. Firstly, they seem to believe there's a reason to be ashamed. Homesickness is a form of stress and stress is a normal reaction to challenging events. Stress is what helps you react to danger, but it can also have side effects. There's nothing childish about homesickness – it happens at any time of life and affects the butchest blokes and the most intrepid travellers.
Secondly, people just don't realise. Of course, they know all is not right with the universe, but homesickness? Surely not me. I mean, it's not like it's my first time away from home. It's not like I'm six. It's not like I'm not coping.
Understanding that a touch of the moody blues may be part of something bigger or may have a specific cause can be half the battle. It means you can take evasive action – whether it's getting out more or getting help.
Whatever you do – don’t feel you have to struggle on without asking for help. Even if it's nothing more than a phone call to a friend. Often just talking through something can help put things in perspective. Beyond this, universities offer advice and support, although the amount and type vary enormously from university to university.
These are some of the avenues you might try:
- University counsellors: professionals employed by the university to deal with sticky situations that require specialist help.
- GPs, therapists and psychiatrists - some universities have their own dedicated practices on campus or near one of their sites, and can put you in touch with professional therapists or psychiatrists.
- Personal tutors, departmental tutors and mentors. In theory, personal tutors are the first contact point for students throughout their university career. Often though, these tutors don't have training (although some universities insist they do) and, apart from an evening in freshers week when students are invited to meet their personal tutor, drink cheap wine from plastic cups and chat awkwardly, many don’t have any further contact.
- Nightline services. These are free, anonymous, confidential phone lines staffed by trained volunteers who can provide a friendly non-judgemental ear. Some have drop-in centres.
ethnic students
While most universities have at least a few faces that aren’t white, some have more and a much wider range of shades.
Racism isn’t that common in academia – or not consciously anyway. But problems of ignorance arise where a different coloured face stands out from the usual mix. If that face happens to be yours, it’s worth checking whether your chosen place has an ethnic minorities' or equal opportunities officer.
If the students’ union or university does employ one that’s a good sign that matters are taken seriously, but it’s worth looking at where they are in the hierarchy. A student who is supposed to consider ethnic minorities issues in their spare time is probably not as able to effect change as a full-time senior member of university staff with their own office and PA.
Also look out for support groups, stated policies and a clear and established complaints procedure.
A few measures some places have introduced to counter racial prejudices, whether overt or otherwise, include blind marking of exams so names don’t influence results. This is also handy for countering sex discrimination.
Obviously, international students have another set of unique problems to face, not least the whole language barrier and the culture shock. Overseas students associations can be a particularly important support system, especially when it comes to finance issues that the regular channels don’t necessarily understand properly.
Country-specific groups can be helpful too, particularly when it comes to being made to feel at home.
Racism isn’t that common in academia – or not consciously anyway. But problems of ignorance arise where a different coloured face stands out from the usual mix. If that face happens to be yours, it’s worth checking whether your chosen place has an ethnic minorities' or equal opportunities officer.
If the students’ union or university does employ one that’s a good sign that matters are taken seriously, but it’s worth looking at where they are in the hierarchy. A student who is supposed to consider ethnic minorities issues in their spare time is probably not as able to effect change as a full-time senior member of university staff with their own office and PA.
Also look out for support groups, stated policies and a clear and established complaints procedure.
A few measures some places have introduced to counter racial prejudices, whether overt or otherwise, include blind marking of exams so names don’t influence results. This is also handy for countering sex discrimination.
Obviously, international students have another set of unique problems to face, not least the whole language barrier and the culture shock. Overseas students associations can be a particularly important support system, especially when it comes to finance issues that the regular channels don’t necessarily understand properly.
Country-specific groups can be helpful too, particularly when it comes to being made to feel at home.
women
Women are -finally- no longer a minority group in higher education. In fact, they’re the majority amongst undergraduates… just about. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have particular requirements. On the contrary — the more women, the more necessary it is to make universities appropriate environments.
All sorts of provisions have been put in place at some universities to ensure women aren’t compromised in getting the most out of their time as students. We’re not just talking about tampon dispensers in the toilets here (although it is an issue and, indeed, as a consequence of some SUs’ policies against VAT on euphemistically-termed feminine hygiene products, they discount them to the tune of 20% in their own shops).
At the forefront is the women’s officer — one of the students elected to the executive of the students’ unions. If there’s no women’s officer, that tells you something about the students’ (and possibly the university’s) level of concern. If there is a women’s officer, but she’s not sabbatical — even though there are other sabbaticals in charge of sports, the student newspaper and the charity rag — that also tells you something about priorities.
The reason the women’s officer is at the forefront is that she can ensure that other services and provisions are put in place. For example, a women’s room.
When women ask for a women-only room, the men often ask, in gruff and somewhat patronising tones, why women need a room. After all, where’s the men’s room? To which the answer is: the bar is the men’s room. Although student bars are better than many pubs, some can be intimidating places for women students. Many feel it’s important to have somewhere they can go and retreat and not be hassled. For similar reasons, many women find it helpful if there’s a women’s group.
Sad to say, women’s safety is an issue too. Younger women out late at night can feel vulnerable to attack, even if there’s no specific threat. This in itself is reason enough for provisions such as a women-only minibus after events, to take students back to their halls or even to rented accommodation if necessary.
Many students’ unions provide free or subsidised personal attack alarms and many run self-defence classes.
However, the level of support differs. Under the 2010 Equality Act, you are protected from sex and gender discrimination in education and in the workplace. Despite this, many academic departments are male-dominated, as are the higher echelons of most universities and they just don’t appreciate the situation.
Not every university is the same in what it does for women. Some also face bigger problems than others regarding issues that concern women such as safety, discrimination and harassment, and some take it more seriously than others.
All sorts of provisions have been put in place at some universities to ensure women aren’t compromised in getting the most out of their time as students. We’re not just talking about tampon dispensers in the toilets here (although it is an issue and, indeed, as a consequence of some SUs’ policies against VAT on euphemistically-termed feminine hygiene products, they discount them to the tune of 20% in their own shops).
At the forefront is the women’s officer — one of the students elected to the executive of the students’ unions. If there’s no women’s officer, that tells you something about the students’ (and possibly the university’s) level of concern. If there is a women’s officer, but she’s not sabbatical — even though there are other sabbaticals in charge of sports, the student newspaper and the charity rag — that also tells you something about priorities.
The reason the women’s officer is at the forefront is that she can ensure that other services and provisions are put in place. For example, a women’s room.
When women ask for a women-only room, the men often ask, in gruff and somewhat patronising tones, why women need a room. After all, where’s the men’s room? To which the answer is: the bar is the men’s room. Although student bars are better than many pubs, some can be intimidating places for women students. Many feel it’s important to have somewhere they can go and retreat and not be hassled. For similar reasons, many women find it helpful if there’s a women’s group.
Sad to say, women’s safety is an issue too. Younger women out late at night can feel vulnerable to attack, even if there’s no specific threat. This in itself is reason enough for provisions such as a women-only minibus after events, to take students back to their halls or even to rented accommodation if necessary.
Many students’ unions provide free or subsidised personal attack alarms and many run self-defence classes.
However, the level of support differs. Under the 2010 Equality Act, you are protected from sex and gender discrimination in education and in the workplace. Despite this, many academic departments are male-dominated, as are the higher echelons of most universities and they just don’t appreciate the situation.
Not every university is the same in what it does for women. Some also face bigger problems than others regarding issues that concern women such as safety, discrimination and harassment, and some take it more seriously than others.
safe sex
Sex always seems like a good idea, but safe sex always actually is, especially with the increase of STDs like chlamydia, HIV and, of course, the risk of pregnancy. Contraception advice should be available from doctors and counsellors. There’s also a free helpline on 0800 567 123 to answer any questions you might have about sexual health.
Sexwise can also be called on 0800 28 29 30 to chat about anything to do with sex, relationships or contraception any day between 7am and midnight, and there's a live counsellor on hand on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on their website.
Sexwise can also be called on 0800 28 29 30 to chat about anything to do with sex, relationships or contraception any day between 7am and midnight, and there's a live counsellor on hand on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on their website.
drugs
Push doesn’t want to be all judgy about this, and our policy is that we neither condone nor condemn anything you do. We just tell it like it is.
At some universities drugs are a problem (and, for some students, a ‘problem’ means a lack of availability). There’s both use and abuse. Of course, using anything illegal can get you kicked out of university, which is probably the worst way to flunk. And in any case, messing about with unfamiliar substances, without knowing what they’ll do to you, is pretty bloody daft.
No university is completely immune from the effects of drugs, although the most affected are those in towns or cities where drugs are easily available and where a certain type of club culture is strongest.
However, most universities don’t have any facilities to combat drug problems specifically. They rely on the health and counselling services to handle situations.
Alcohol abuse – and remember that alcohol is the most common drug taken in UK universities – is part of the problem too. Drinking’s a part of student life and there’s nothing wrong in that, but going too far is also quite common.
All too often, it’s the result of students who’re rather too immature and who’re away from home for the first time and just a tad too over-excited about the availability of cheap drink. For others, alcoholism is a more serious illness. In any case, students can get help from their university or students’ union welfare services or from the local or campus health centres.
At some universities drugs are a problem (and, for some students, a ‘problem’ means a lack of availability). There’s both use and abuse. Of course, using anything illegal can get you kicked out of university, which is probably the worst way to flunk. And in any case, messing about with unfamiliar substances, without knowing what they’ll do to you, is pretty bloody daft.
No university is completely immune from the effects of drugs, although the most affected are those in towns or cities where drugs are easily available and where a certain type of club culture is strongest.
However, most universities don’t have any facilities to combat drug problems specifically. They rely on the health and counselling services to handle situations.
Alcohol abuse – and remember that alcohol is the most common drug taken in UK universities – is part of the problem too. Drinking’s a part of student life and there’s nothing wrong in that, but going too far is also quite common.
All too often, it’s the result of students who’re rather too immature and who’re away from home for the first time and just a tad too over-excited about the availability of cheap drink. For others, alcoholism is a more serious illness. In any case, students can get help from their university or students’ union welfare services or from the local or campus health centres.
welfare: USEFUL links
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Ask Frank
talktofrank.com Independent Government-funded advice about drugs. Focuses on health effects and the law, but it's not preachy. Brook Advisory brook.org.uk Sex and contraception advice for anyone under 25. Lifetracks lifetracks.com Contains advice on learning, training and work to help students make informed decision about their future. National Nightline nightline.ac.uk Contains quite a bit of advice, but also tells you about local Nightline services – many universities have one and they're often the best first stop in a crisis |
National Union of Students nus.org.uk Helpful advice on all aspects of student life from the UK's student representation and services body. The Samaritans samaritans.org A useful back-up to universities' own nightline services if you just need an anonymous ear to talk you through a particularly blue patch. Student Health studenthealth.co.uk Advice from doctors. Woman Student Online womanstudent.co.uk Not just for the ladies, the articles on this site give bite-sized bits of info on all kinds of student matters. |